Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

The clues...
Requests for help should normally include the clue itself, the number of letters in the answer, and details of any you already have. Any additional information or special instructions, common in Listener puzzles, should also be included.
Hints only, please, no answers.

The theme...
Help towards the theme may also be sought here. The assistance given should be fairly gentle in nature - just a nudge or a pointer in the right direction (and certainly not anything to spoil the puzzle for others.
Any posts which, even inadvertently, reveal too much of the theme are likely to be removed.
If you feel a post is too revealing, please contact Norah, site administrator, by using the 'Report this post' link.. Norah tends to err on the side of caution, so any 'iffy' posts will probably go!

The Listener is a unique puzzle and should be treated with respect.

Clever construction. And an interesting challenge to find all the teams.

Thanks, Harribobs!

I agree - finding the last two was a real struggle (though one of them was staring me in the face). However, trawling through the history of both possible tournaments I can't find one where all 15 were among the last 16, so deciding who won isn't straightforward ... unless it's a fictional competition.

Just finished. I’m very impressed with the construction, getting the teams names into a symmetric grid. It was fun doing it, thanks Harribobs

Yes, very enjoyable and an impressive construction to squeeze it all in. However, I just cannot see the wordplay for 1d.

Simond9x, as you have the grid,you probably know which word gives the definition for 1D, and which are the extra words.
The remainder use 3, 1, 1 words to give 1, 2, 3 letters.

Thanks, rhsl. Bit of a blindspot there.

Nearly there. Can't see 14a nor 24a and only found 11 teams so far. I have a tentative answer for 24a, but cannot see the definition.

24A - definition is the last of the unremoved words.

Got 14a now and 12 teams, can't see the one 4th down clue that I have identified and still searching for the other 2 jumbles. Seems like an odd bunch of teams so far!!!